Advancing poliovirus eradication: lessons learned from piloting direct molecular detection of polioviruses in high-risk and priority geographies
Surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and sensitive poliovirus detection are key components of the WHO Global Polio Eradication Strategy. This work summarizes the results of a multi-laboratory evaluation designed to field-test the performance and applicability of a molecular Direct Detection strategy (DD-ITD) that does not require amplification of live poliovirus. AFP samples were processed in parallel with both the DD-ITD and the current gold-standard PV detection methodology, based on virus isolation (VI) through cell culture. All participating laboratories detected more PV presumptive positive samples using the DD-ITD strategy than with virus isolation methodology, although a higher proportion of DD-ITD results required confirmatory sequencing. Significant variability among laboratories was observed in the quality of the results and overall DD-ITD performance. Implementing DD-ITD would entail building proficiency in advanced molecular laboratory techniques and strengthening data analysis skills.
Authors
- Prossy Namuwulya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9468-1788)
- Lea Necitas G. Apostol (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5047-7956)
- Peter Borus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5236-2319)
- Shelina Moonsamy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8490-8977)
- Mesfin Tefera
- Brandon Short
- Chelsea Harrington (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2879-444X)
- Varja Grabovac
- John Kofi Odoom (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0761-4614)
- Yogolelo Riziki
- Cara C. Burns (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2582-2476)
- Hong Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1306-8050)
- Nancy Gerloff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5696-8318)
- Shahzad Shaukat (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3502-6940)
- Adedayo Omotayo Faneye (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6163-286X)
- Paula L. Marcet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0676-3020)
- Muhammad Masroor Alam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0005-7635)
- Marie Claire Endegue Zanga
- Ashley Deas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3950-9423)
- Salmaan Sharif (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2558-3068)
- Baba M (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1004-1717)
- Anfumbom Kfutwah
- Tamer Elshaarawy
Institutions
- National Center for Disease Control (IN)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- World Health Organization - Pakistan (PK)
- Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (PH)
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KE)
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (GH)
- World Health Organization (CH)
- World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EG)
- Centre Pasteur du Cameroun (CM)
- Vacsera (Egypt) (EG)
- National Institute of Biomedical Research (CD)
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (CG)
- World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific (PH)
- Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit (ZA)
- National Institute of Health (PK)
- University of Maiduguri (NG)
- Uganda Virus Research Institute (UG)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Microbiology Spectrum
- Published
- 2024-12-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02279-24
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.61
Funders
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention